IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: All blog posts are intended to provide general information. Nothing we post on this site is legal advice, nor does reading anything we write, or communicating with us through this platform, create an attorney/client relationship between us. Please note that legal rules and interpretations constantly change and some blog posts may be outdated. Once again these posts do not substitute for legal counsel. Seek legal consultation for your fact specific situations.
When will I find out if my registration was selected in this year's lottery?
ANSWER: USCIS will announce on or around April 1st that it has completed the lottery of H-1B registrations and finished notifying petitioners whose registrations were selected. Your ImmiPartner legal team thoroughly reviews the selection notices for all applicants as they are received, and if your registration was among those selected, our team will notify you via email between April 1-7.
Understanding the 60-day rule and the possible interpretations of when this time period begins is critically important for laid-off workers. This calculation is very important for an H-1B worker and their new sponsoring employer, to ensure timely filing of a transfer application or change of status application, without USCIS finding a violation of authorized stay and denying such filing. The immigration regulations (8 CFR 214.1(l)(2)), dealing with the 60-day grace period, references “cessation of employment” as the start date or triggering event for counting this window. Let’s dig into this.
FAQ: COMPLIANCE GUIDE FOR H-1B DEPENDENT EMPLOYERS
When a US company’s employee population comprises a certain number of H-1B visa holders, the US Department of Labor categorizes certain H-1B employers as “H-1B dependent employers.” These FAQs are intended to clarify which entities would be considered “H-1B dependent employers” and their related compliance requirements.
On December 23, 2021, the U.S. Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, announced that in certain cases, the interview requirement for visa stamps may be waived for some nonimmigrant applicants with a petition approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This policy will be in effect until the end of 2022. Please note that even if a visa applicant meets the below conditions, this is not a guarantee that a visa interview will absolutely not occur, as consular officers always have the option of requesting an interview.
When will I find out if my registration was selected in this year's lottery?
ANSWER: USCIS will announce on or around April 1st that it has completed the lottery of H-1B registrations and finished notifying petitioners whose registrations were selected. Your ImmiPartner legal team thoroughly reviews the selection notices for all applicants as they are received, and if your registration was among those selected, our team will notify you via email between April 1-7.
Biden resurrects a U.S. immigration option for international founders and their startups that is modern and in keeping with current business models, typical funding, and more! Entrepreneurs have the Biden Administration to thank for taking the clear step in resurrected the 2017 Obama era International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), which grants immigration parole to foreign-born entrepreneurs, who can prove that through their qualifying startup, will provide a significant public benefit to the U.S., in terms of job creation and growth.
On April 27th, 2021, USCIS announced that the agency is issuing policy guidance instructing
USCIS Officers to give deference to prior determinations when adjudicating extension requests. In other words, USCIS Officers are being directed to defer to prior determinations of approval for extension requests including the same parties and facts.
On October 6, 2020 the Trump administration released two immigration rules directly aimed at the H1B and PERM Green Card processes. It is critical for companies and individuals to understand these rule changes and what to expect as it is aimed at the very core of H1B specialty occupation qualification as well as H1B and PERM Green Card wage requirements that impact the immigration status of professional workers.